Page 24 - June 2025 - Truth & Tidings

fered, not “he” will be offered. Further, ambiguous in the terms of payment. He
the fact that the thing that comes out of leaves those terms to the Lord’s choosing.
his house will “meet” him can have the Although the rendering is in the mi-
idea of accidentally encountering, to nority, “and I will offer it up for a burnt
befall, like the lion that “comes toward” offering” (11:31) can be rendered “or I
Samson a few chapters later (14:5). Lions will offer it up for a burnt offering” (see
seldom make deliberate plans to greet Young’s translation above). This leaves
people on a highway, but unfortunate room for any human to be dedicated to
souls can encounter a lion. This adds to the Lord, and not literally burnt up. If the
the non-specificity of the vow. The phrase “and” is the better rendering, it is impor-
“cometh forth of the doors of my house” tant to notice that the Old Testament has
should not be pressed too literally either, ample references to spiritual sacrifices.
since this is Jephthah’s way of saying that Not every burnt offering is a literal burnt
he was opening his whole house to God. offering. Abraham thought that the Lord
He was essentially saying that the Lord was being strictly literal when he said “of-
could choose what He saw fit. Anything fer [Isaac] ... for a burnt offering upon one
that belonged to Jephthah could be the
Lord’s. of the mountains which I will tell thee of”
(Gen 22:2); however, the Lord had no such
The structure of the vow adds to this literalism in mind. This does happen from
idea. There are two parallel concepts, time to time in the Bible: “The sacrifices
one of committal, the other of returning. of God are a broken spirit: a broken and
Committal language is seen in the words a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not de-
“if thou shalt without fail deliver Ammon
into mine hands ... shall surely be the spise” (Psa 51:17); “Let them sacrifice the
LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt sacrifices of thanksgiving” (Psa 107:22);
offering.” “Without fail ... deliver” and “So will we render the calves of our lips”
“shall surely ... offer it” are phrases that (Hos 14:2). Paul had a high regard for the
mirror one another. Jephthah is saying that literal sacrifices of Old Testament law, but
if the Lord gives all into his hand, he will even he had a category for non-physical
give anything back into the Lord’s hand. sacrifices: “Present your bodies a living
If God fully delivers Ammon to Jephthah, sacrifice” (Rom 12:1). Jephthah, therefore,
then Jephthah will fully deliver anything has a category of thought called “spiritual
of God’s choosing over to Him. sacrifice,” and he was willing to offer or
The language of return is seen in the dedicate any person as a spiritual burnt
words “whatsoever cometh forth of my offering to God.
house ... when I return in peace from Am- The above dispels the myth that Jeph-
mon.” The contract is proportionate: “co- thah had adopted Canaanite human
meth forth” mirrors “return.” If Jephthah sacrifice ideology. Jephthah has shown
comes back from the battle, anything that his intricate knowledge of the Pentateuch,
comes to him will belong to the Lord. and he knew that human sacrifice was
The generality and structure of the vow anathema (Lev 18:21; 20:2; Deu 18:10). Any
show that Jephthah is opening up all he suggestion that he purposed to sacrifice
owns to the choice of God. He is highly people is unwarranted.
specific in his requirements but is very To be continued …

184 TRUTH kTidings June 2025